491 



Hirst (S.). Pseudoscorpions and Bees. — Bee World, Benson, Oxon., 

 iv, no. 2, July 1922, pp. 36-37. 



Referring to a recent account of Chelifer cancroides in beehives 

 [R.A.E., A, X, 448] the author quotes various records from which it is 

 clear that either this species or C. sculpturatus frequents beehives in 

 South and East Africa. Apparently there is no real parasitism, and 

 insect hosts are used merely as a means of transport, the chief food being 

 mites or minute insects. The introduction of these Arachnids into 

 beehives is considered rather a dangerous experiment, as it might 

 perhaps be harmful to the bees or their larvae. 



In a note following this paper, R. Whyte questions the harmlessness 

 of these pseudoscorpions among bees ; at Cedara, in South Africa, 

 although the eggs were not found in hives, thej^ were twice found in the 

 underground nests of wild colonies of bees, and the young Arachnids 

 that hatched out, while refusing honey or pollen, sucked up the juices 

 of bee larvae that had been injured in removing them from cells. 



An editorial footnote suggests the advisability of scientific research on 

 a permanent basis for the study of such bee problems as the economic 

 status of pseudoscorpions. The records of Chelifer spp. being abundant 

 in hives abroad, but not in Britain, seem rather in favour of their 

 introduction. 



Geschwi nd ( a . ) . Ein Beitrag zur Biologic der Panzer- oder weissrindigen 



Kiefer [Pinus leucodcrmis, Ant.). [A Contribution to the Biolog)- of 

 Finns nigra leucodennis.] — Centralbl. f. d.ges. Forstwesen, Vienna, 

 xlvii, 1921, pp. 30-41. (Abstract in Zeitschr. Fflanzenkrankh. 

 u. Gallenkiinde, Stuttgart, xxxii, no. 3-4, 1922, pp. 122-123.) 



The caterpillar of Dioryctria silvestrella infests the cones of Finns 

 nigra leucodermis with the result that they are somewhat smaller and 

 hent at the tip. 



FuLMEK (L.). Blattlause in Kleefeldern. [Aphids in Clover Fields.] — 

 Wiener landw. Ztg., Ixxi, 1921, p. 237. (Abstract in Zeitschr. 

 Fflanzenkrankh. u. Gallenkiinde, Stuttgart, xxxii, no. 3-4, 1922, 

 p. 151.) 



In 1921 many clover fields near Vienna were badly injured by 

 Acyrthosiphon pisi. This Aphid also attacked sainfoin and lucerne. 

 The latter suffered most in mixed plantings with red clover. The 

 measures adopted were rolling, in cases of less severe infestation, and 

 the ploughing under of those portions that had been destroyed. 



Herrmann (P.). Ueber die Lebensgewohnheiten und Entwicklung des 

 Schlehenspinners, Orgyia antiqua, L. [On the Habits and Develop- 

 ment of the Sloe Moth, Notolophns antiquus.] — Bericht d. hoh. 

 staatl. Lehranst. f. Obst- u. Gartenhau zu Froskau f. 1918-1919, 

 Berlin, 1921, pp. 92-95, illustrated. (Abstract in Zeitschr. Fflan- 

 zenkrankh. 11. Gallcnkunde, Stuttgart, xxxii, no. 3-4, 1922, p. 158.) 



Notolophns {Orgyia) antiquus hibernates in the egg stage only, and 

 the first larvae appear early in May. The pupal period lasts 2-3 weeks. 

 The female moth deposits 300-400 eggs, usually close to the place 

 where pupation has occurred. The egg-masses should be burned. 

 Spraying with arsenicals and other stomach-poisons should be carried 

 out from May to December, but only if the infestation is severe. 



